* I have never regretted a healthy choice. * It is always a choice, not a sacrifice. ~ Danni (Hungry Healthy Happy) * Only 1 in 10 are finishers. I am a finisher! * I have a choice! * Just because I can't do it today, doesn't mean I won't be able to do it some day. ~Arthur ...

PROGRESS -- NOT PERFECTION

"And hope does not put us to shame..." Romans 5:5 NIV

MOTIVATIONAL THOUGHTS and THINGS ABOUT ME

* I have never regretted a healthy choice. * It is always a choice, not a sacrifice. ~ Danni (Hungry Healthy Happy) * Only 1 in 10 are finishers. I am a finisher! * I have a choice! * Just because I can't do it today, doesn't mean I won't be able to do it some day. ~Arthur http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX9FSZJu448 * If you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed. ~ David Viscott * Figure out what's good for you, then create a liking for it. You've got to work at living. ~ Jack LaLanne * Self-respect is the root of discipline: The sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself. ~ Abraham Joshua Heschel * I am not where I need to be, but thank God I am not where I used to be. ~ Joyce Myers * There are no shortcuts to any place worth going. ~ Beverly Sills * The harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap we esteem too lightly. ~ Thomas Paine * The song only goes wrong when we keep thinking back to the wrong notes . . . Fall Forward. ~ Ann Voskamp **************************************** I started this journey in 2009 in my late 40's. I have been overweight for many years. Twice before I lost 40 pounds at a time; but then it seemed something in me just broke and I let everything go and put all the weight back on plus.

One of my fears that has held me back from making the necessary lifestyle changes sooner is that this scenario will re-occur and I will be right back where I was. I pray that the third time is a charm!

I want to do this in a way that I hope I can live with on a permanent basis, trying to make more healthy choices along the way, and fewer unhealthy choices. By God's grace I know I can do it, and I pray that I can reach out and take his grace when I need it.

August, 2010 - Mother passed away after some time of declining health. As of November, I am still struggling to get back on track with my healthy lifestyle and have actually gained some weight. Am behind in my long range goal for the first time. I've re-set some goals while I work through my grief. I will beat this! I just need some time.

June, 2011 - I've gained 20 pounds since I lost my job in March and had to take a position with a 90 mile commute one way. Time for a fresh start. Re-set my goal weight, my trackers, etc. I am not sure if I am quite at determined, but I am determined to be determined.

January, 2012 - I'm up 30 pounds. I've got the exercising down, but am working to lasso the eating. Fall as often as I will, I am determined not to give up!

April, 2012 - Down 6 pounds. Re-committing to an eating plan that will work for me. New goal for 2012 is to lose the 30 pounds I gained last year. I can do this.

June, 2012 - Working on renewing my mind, in healthy living and other areas of my life. If the battle is not won in my mind, it will never be won. This is my renewed focus for 2012. I've been training for a 10K in July for over a month now. No running per my trainer - yet! But I'm going to walk it! I am eating less and exercising more than I did in the fall and winter of 2009 when I was at this weight, but the scale is not budging. At that point, the weight practically slid off. Is it my 3 hour per day commute, lack of sleep, meds? I wish I knew. Nevertheless, I will not give up. Whatever it takes!

July, 2012 - has been a difficult month of learning endurance and perseverance, but has ended up being a month of wins. I walked my first official 10K, came off of my meds that I was suspected of causing weight gain, moved forward in my thought patterns regarding eating, crossed 1,300 miles on my walk across America, already achieved my fitness minutes goal for 2012, and broke that plateau by a 4 pound loss. For a total of 53 lost. There is only one way to go - forward! Rejoicing! Tears of joy!

December, 2012 - I've not achieved all I wanted this year, but I've learned a ton. I am a finisher. I will go on.

April, 2014 - 2013 was the most difficult year I have ever experienced. I maintained weight until November, when my husband had surgery with complications. Due to stress and time constraints, I left myself fall into old habits and gained 20 pounds. I felt myself in a deep hole. But this is the year of restoration, and I am slowly seeing light from this deep dark hole. I will go on.

My Goals:
*Ultimately, a healthier lifestyle is my goal - weight loss is a by product.

*My long range goal is to lose 157 pounds. I've had some setbacks and pitfalls. April, 2012 - I wanted to be at my goal weight by now. I am not, and I'm trying to let it go, set smaller short term goals and press forward.

*Hopefully avoid some health issues by exercise and healthy diet.

My Program:
*Consume calories per day based on Spark People's plan following a balanced diet using diabetic dietary exchange chart.

*Drink at least 6 - 8 cups of water per day.

*Add more whole grains, fruits and vegetables into my diet. Trying to make a healthy lifestyle one choice at a time.

* Walk at least 3 miles per week. January, 2012 - changed to 13 miles per week.

* Look for ways to be more active, not sedentary.

*Strength training 2 - 4 times per week.

Other Information:
I am a homemaker and work full time as a Software Test Analyst.

I love to read - I used to be an avid espionage reader, but somehow it doesn't hold my interest right now. I'm more into inspirational and biography type books. Listening to a lot of inspirational audio books on my commute to work.

Joined Flylady November 2009 - Baby steps in other areas of life.

For a long time, I had a single white rose as my wallpaper and a pink page in memory of my precious Mother who died 8/8/10. She was the rose in my world. Every time I went to change it, I would end up in a sodden emotional puddle. I've finally managed to change my page, but somehow I cannot make myself yet remove this small tribute to her. It will never be the same. I love you, Mother.

The Baby (ok toddler really!) and me would enjoy that fruit salad a LOT, she yells for "fruit-fruit" in the shops, and hugs a broccoli around until we pay for it!

We had a big mess of not really a garden at the new house, lots of concrete and the house was a bigger priority to fix, but we have finally made progress with getting towards a garden, so cannot grow anything yet, next year though... next year!

I didn't "come see him" b/c of leg. I was seated when he said that, so he couldn't see I had a leg problem. Not something I wanted to reveal in person, either, and blow the chance for a job.

Now that I can walk or at least fake a normal gait when needed, I now feel free to "come see him" this week. That's why I talked about applying online and resuming the job hunt this week. I have two weekdays off this week, so I'm going back to Planet Fitness trainer this week, and also lots of job hunting this week, including the part-time job @ grocery store.

It says you are on a SPARKS break - just wanted to check in on you and see if you are still here... I felt a flood of warmth when I saw the picture of your sweet mama still on your page...now I will read and see how you are doing. Will be in touch if I continue to be able to be on site here. God bless you and trust you are OK. The Lord is holding my hnd into a new struggle for health. more later